My eMachines S1940 desktop computer won't turn on. Do I need to replace the power supply?

Question

It was working fine last night, although I've noticed for a while that a light in the front under what looks like a battery icon keeps staying on. This morning when I turned on the computer, that light came on again and the fan started running, but nothing else happened. Now when I try, even that light is out and the fan doesn't come on; tower is completely dead. Monitor and speakers are plugged into the same power strip and turn on just fine. Haven't had any electrical storms or power outages. There is no reset button on the computer. Has my power supply died, or are there things I can try before assuming that?

Answer 1

Its probably just a bad power supply, although I I agree you should consider a new system if you depend on that computer.

Emachines are junk really, they use cheapo parts that constantly break in order to make the price attractive. You get what you pay for...this is even more true when it comes to electronics.

Take a look at the mainboard and make sure there are no leaking capacitors or bulging capacitors...use this image as a reference:

http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200302/capblown_3.jpg

http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200302/capblown_6.jpg


The slightest amount of bulging or leaking means you have a bad motherboard. You could get this replaced, although a good quality replacement is hard to come by. Check with your local mom and pop computer store if you want it repaired.

You should be able to find a replacement powersupply for about $20-$40 depending on the quality. Take the system or the power supply with you to the store, they should have a tester and be able to tell you if it is indeed bad.

Being in the Computer business I get to see which systems break the most and have problems. Emachines are a big money maker for me because they break all the time. People buy them to save $200-300 but end up spending that anyway to get it fixed down the road or even more to replace it completly. Granted, not every Emachine system will have problems, but a high enough percentage do to be worthy of the junk label.

Answer 2

emachines aren't junk. turned mine into a gamer and never had a problem upgrading mine over the last 4 years.

While it does sound like your Power supply went bad, the only thing you can do is replace the PS and cross your fingers that when the PS went that it didn't fry your motherboard.

Answer 3

On an emachines...if its a bestec powersupply (and i already know it is) then your best to replace the whole system cause 99% chance that the powersupply went and took your motherboard with it.

Answer 4

Any light on? If no led it's power supply problem

Answer 5

theres alot of stuff that can be wrong. processor burnt out, motherboard damaged, powersupple dead. your better off buying a new one or taking it back to where you bought it to get fixed.